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Friday, August 23, 2013

The last of a series of Tony Moly products I was sent for review I especially saved for last since I'm a big fan of eye makeup products particularly the eyeliner. Yes, today I'm reviewing the Tony Moly Perfect Eyes Water-Proof Liner.

The Tony Moly Perfect Eyes Water-Proof Liner

Observations:

Consistency - liquid, nice application, not watery

Shades - comes in a lot of shades; 01 Real Black, 02 Real Brown, 03 Sparkle Navy, 04 Sparkle Black, 05 Sparkle Green, 06 Night Navy, 07 Night Violet, 08 Sparkle Pink (I'm not sure if these are all the shades available for the liquid liners because I know there are a lot more shades for the pencil liners and I can't find any shades after the 08 - if any of you knows, leave me a comment so I can update)

Applicator - felt tip brush

Pigmentation - vibrant; great color pay off

Drying time - quick drying

Wear - last the whole day without smudging, waterproof - can take a dip in the pool or shower with it without worrying if it will come off unless you rub it with water

Removal - easy to remove with makeup remover

I have tried a lot of liquid and pencil eyeliners especially when I was still starting to experiment with makeup. Liquid eyeliner was the makeup I use on a daily basis when I was in college and I went through a lot of tubes of them already.

The packaging, texture, consistency and pigmentation of this liner is very similar to the Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. Though I very much prefer the Tony Moly liquid liner than the UD 24/7 in terms of the brush applicator and it's staying power. The felt tip applicator just gives a better control and enough flexibility to glide when lining the eyes and not tug on it. It is staying power is amazing and it lasted me the whole day without it budging, smudging or flaking. Pigmentation is great as well: vibrant and didn't fade throughout the day. Though I received a shade that isn't really my comfort zone, I think I still pulled it off. It is a great pop of color and something that is just nice to have around in my collection to play around with once in a while.

Definitely a ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥!

Watch out for a makeup look featuring the this liner and other Tony Moly products previously reveiwed! :)

Officially one of the coolest makeup product I have ever tried out, not particularly for the product itself but for it's packaging is the Tony Moly Help Me Lip Balm.

Help Me, not only in the sense that it does help save our precious lips from chapping and drying out, it helps out ladies in distress and in literal need of help. The Help Me Lip Balm comes with a key ring that is not only handy and stylish but also features a cool alarm system that will put those car alarms to shame! Yes, you read that right! It has an alarm. Pulling off the chain from the base of the lip balm packaging emits a loud alarm that will have you looking for a car that has been broken in.

The product itself is moisturizing and is not at all that different from the other lip balms sold in the market. It has a lemon scent that is very faint and somehow unnoticeable if you're someone who doesn't have a strong sense of smell. It comes in two types: #1 Super Moisturizing - a clear balm; and #2 Wonder Tint Balm - gives a soft pink tint to the lips.

Cons:

Loud and annoying - though this alarm feature will probably come in handy if anybody tries to mug me, or give me enough laughs if I use it as a practical joke on somebody, it is very loud, noisy, annoying and very inconvenient if I get to pull the ring by mistake

The product itself is moisturizing and is not at all that different from the other lip balms sold in the market. It has a lemon scent that is very faint and somehow unnoticeable if you're someone who doesn't have a strong sense of smell. It comes in two types: #1 Super Moisturizing - a clear balm; and #2 Wonder Tint Balm - gives a soft pink tint to the lips.

This product retails between $12-$17, which I personally think is a bit steep for a lip balm even with it's added protective feature.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Back with another review for a Tony Moly product, thanks to BNTNews International! I am going to review a the Tony Moly Aqua Aura Moist Finish Pact SPF 25 PA++ from their Aqua Aura line.

I'm not very familiar with the Aqua Aura line since I haven't tried anything from their line except for this one. I do know one thing for sure about it from my research, it should provide the user extra moisture to last throughout the day, perfect for people with combination to dry skin. According to this banner I found thanks to Google image search, it is a "breakthrough technology, Glossy Aqua Complex and Mineral Water provides extraordinary hydration."

The Tony Moly Aqua Aura Moist Finish Pact SPF 25 PA++ is a moisture tuning control powder that says to cover up blemishes tightly and evenly without drying up or clumping the skin even after several applications. It will make the skin look bright, transparent and radiant, as the product information states.

Before going into the details of how this product worked for me, I believe that you, my readers, should have a background of my skin type first. I have normal to dry skin. Back when I was still a high school student, my skin was really oily, which is quite normal for someone who was undergoing puberty at that time, plus I was living in a tropical country (the Philippines) which was very humid. Anyway, my skin has changed a lot over the years especially around the age of 19. Sebum secretion has diminished evidently and since I moved to the US 2 years ago, my skin was practically in a normal state - not too oily and not too dry, though I occasionally experience some dry patches here and there around my chin and nose throughout the year and especially during winter.

With that said, here's my honest review on this product.

Since this product claims that it can cover up blemishes and even out skin tone without it being cakey on the face, one could definitely use this as some sort of powder foundation, especially great for people that doesn't need a lot of coverage. I tried using it by itself without anything underneath except for my daily facial moisturizer. Using the sponge it comes with, which is one of the nicest applicator I have come across, it applies smoothly and evenly on the face. It did even out my skin tone although the shade was a little light for me. I have received the #2 Skin Beige shade, and though it was a little light for me at first, I noticed that it did blend it with my natural skin color minutes after application, once it got to settle and oxidize. It does not look cakey at all though I didn't really pack a lot on my face to see if it would be cakey after so many applications. And even if it's basically still summer here, with my skin being normal to dry, I did see a bit of white, dry patches on my face after application. Leaving the dry patches alone and letting the product sit on my face for about 30 minutes or so, the dryness disappeared. I didn't feel the need to reapply throughout the day since my skin didn't particularly feel oily nor too dry although the coverage did wear off.

The difference between using it alone and on top of a foundation is the coverage that you get. Depending on what type of foundation you use, coverage can be built up. Using this powder to set my foundation give me a really nice finish and I didn't find any dry patches on my face - thanks to using a liquid foundation which gives extra moisture. I also tried using this powder on top of a BB cream since BB creams are more moisturizing than regular foundations. Though the moisturizing effect is being doubled up, my skin didn't get too oily, it didn't dry up either. Layering with a foundation or a BB cream did give me a longer lasting coverage than using it alone.

In conclusion, this product does indeed give you the extra moisture you need throughout that day. It is compact and it is great to carry around your purse for reapplication throughout the day if you need it. Having normal to dry skin, I do have to worry about dry patches upon application but as I said, I needed to give it time to sink in with my skin for awhile. Though I cannot say how wonderfully it works to control oil in oily to combination skin types but it is a product worth trying out.

I honestly don't use hand creams that often. I only use them during the winter season where my hands feel particularly dry from the weather and frequent hand washing. Grateful to BNTNews, I got my hands on one of Tony Moly's best selling product, the Peach Anti-Aging Hand Cream.

The Tony Moly Peach Anti-Aging Hand Cream claims to be a whitening product, diminishes wrinkle and makes the skin supple and elastic.

Main Ingredients:

Peach Extract

Apricot Extract

Adenosine - has the ability to increase production of collagen and elastin, proteins the reduces the appearance of aging (wrinkles)

Observations:

Consistency - thin, reminiscent of facial moisturizers rather than the thickness that is usually associated with hand creams

Color - slightly pink tinged

Scent - Strong, pleasant fruity peach scent

Packaging - very cute - peach shaped

Price - between $7 - $9, full size 30g

Cons:

It doesn't come in a box - it is sold as is with a sticker seal between the lid; though this is not really a huge issue, I just feel that any product sold without any box packaging is more susceptible to product tampering.

Product information are in Hangul/Korean characters - since it doesn't come with a box packaging which has more space to write English translations of product information, information that are at the bottom of the product are only in Korean. I personally like knowing what my skin care products are made of and without any English translations, I have to do a thorough research on this particular product to help me write this review (which I always do anyway) and make sure nothing is amiss.

Since I am not an avid hand cream user, having only used one or two brands of hand cream previously, I can only point out one difference between this product and those other two, and that is it's consistency. The other two that I have tried are very thick and has a very moisturizing feeling and though this one is thinner in consistency, it is moisturizing as well, however, it doesn't last for very long. The scent is another story, since it does last for a while in your hand so that's a huge bonus. As for the product's claim on whitening, anti-wrinkle and anti-aging, I can't really tell. I haven't been using this product long enough to see any significant difference in my skin color or texture. Well, prevention is better than cure as the saying goes so it doesn't hurt to have some of that ant-wrinkle and anti-aging affect... not that we would never get wrinkles or never age, just slow down the process and appearance of it.

Korean skin care products are said to be the best in the world and I have been using the Tony Moly Lemon Seed Massage Cream and Green Tea Extract Massage Cream as part of my skin care routine for months now and so far so good. It didn't come as a surprise to me that this product works quite effectively.

Consistency - clay type that has thin to medium thickness and starts to dry around the 5 minute mark but dries completely after 10-15 minutes after application

Color - light brown

Scent - slight lemon and perfume scent that is faint and not overpowering

Packaging - adorable packaging - partially cracked egg appearance

Price - somewhere between $9 - $11, full size 30ml

I've used quite a few face masks sold in the market that claims to minimize pores and remove redness and so far I haven't found anything worth the hype or review but this Egg Pore Tightening Pack is quite something. Perhaps the most noticeable difference of this mask from other face mask is it's consistency from the bottle and when it dries up. It is not as thick as other clay masks nor does it dry up quickly. It dries smooth on the skin and it's not too tight either. I find that other masks dry up too tightly around the skin that it feels like the circulation is cut off but this mask doesn't do this at all. It sits comfortably on the skin and it does have a slight cooling effect on the skin while drying but it doesn't sting. Since it does not dry off quickly nor too tightly and does not have any strong scent and acid content, it is great for sensitive and irritated skin types. According to the diagram on the packaging, you should apply it around your nose and cheeks but I see no harm in applying it all over the face or any part of your face that has excessive redness, large pores and even acne.

It does not only tighten the skin and minimize the pores but it also diminishes redness and makes the skin appear glowy, supple and youthful as per the effects of it's main ingredient, the egg. It also controls oil so it is also great oily skin. Combination to dry skin types should not worry since this mask is not overly drying like other masks so you are perfectly okay.

I guess I am ready to say that this product is eligible be part of my regular skin care routine as well as be one of my HG (holy grail) products when it comes to pore minimization. Always remember though, that even if this product is highly recommended by me and other bloggers out there, we are all unique and what works for me and for others may not work for you. However, this product is worth a try!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

I have been sticking to natural makeup looks during the summer and I have two favorite eye makeup palettes. One is of no surprise because it is one of the first reviews I have ever made on my blog and actually it is the one I used for this makeup look. The other makeup palette, well, I'll talk about it in another blog post. The palette I used for today's look is the most inexpensive and wonderful product that I have ever found in the drugstore. It is none other than the Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio on Walking on Eggshells.

I'm not sure if I have ever done a makeup post on this particular look but I do believe I have something similar to it which is the Everyday Spring Makeup Look. This particular makeup look is simple, looks natural, brightens the eyes and makes you look youthful. I always receive compliments whenever I have this particular makeup look on. Couple it with a nice pair of circle lenses and you get yourself an ulzzang look (Korean best face). Believe me, I've been mistaken as a Korean at least 70% of the time.

Anyway, let's get on the tutorial to get this natural and bright-eyed makeup look.

Face and Cheeks:

It's summer time and it's an essential to have sunscreen on the face so I'm starting with my Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer with SPF15 on a clean face. My skin, though it's summer, has been having some dry patches so I double up my moisturizer and apply the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion once I've let the other moisturizer sink in for a couple of minutes.

Missha BB Cream No.23 and Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation in Medium Beige - mixing a little amount of the BB Cream to the foundation will give you a nice dewy finish since I'm not gonna use any powder to set the makeup. I used my Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki Brush to blend in the makeup - this brush is my current favorite in applying foundation.

NYC Bronzer in Sunny - a light contour on the cheeks, temples, jaw and neck to give the face definition though subtle using the e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush

NYX Powder Blush in Peach - a light dusting of this blush will gives such a nice, slight warm and natural flush to the cheeks and I used my Sigma F40 Large Angled Brush

Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio Highlight shade - Highlight all the high points of the face: cheek bones, bridge of the nose, Cupid's bow and forehead. Remember: don't overdo the highlight or it will just make you look super shiny and greasy. You want it natural and glowy looking not like somebody who came out straight from a Twilight movie. I applied the highlighter with my fingers but you can definitely use a brush to apply yours.

Brows:

Wet n Wild Brow Kit

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original - it is important to always prime the eyes. Apply and blend in with a clean finger

Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio Walking on Eggshells - Eyelid shade, apply it all over the lid with a clean finger and blend out or you can use a flat shader brush. Crease shade, apply it on the outer corner of your eye and bring it up to the crease of your eyes and blend away using a blending brush (Sigma E25 Blending Brush). Highlight shade, highlight the inner corner of the eyes, and also bring it to the inner third of the eyes.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow in Brule - it is matte cream colored shadow that is perfect for highlighting the brow bone. Of course, you can definitely use the highlight shade included in the trio - I used to use it all the time too for the brow bone however we need some matte in the eyes to balance out the sheen that the other shadows bring.

NYX Slide On Pencil in Brown Perfection - you can definitely use some black liners but brown is more softer and natural looking. Tightline and line the waterline, as well the mid to outer portion of thelower lash line.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Crave - Smudge out the liner at the bottom lash line and slightly wing out using a smudge brush

Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner - Line the eyes as thin as possible and wing out, making sure that the winged liquid liner connects to the smudged liner at the bottom.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara and Maybelline Colossal Mascara - curl the lashes and apply mascara. I layer out my mascara to build up volume and length to my super short and thin lashes.

Lips:Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Coral twist

And that's the final look! Just a natural makeup look that is suitable for everyday wear. I'm wearing a new pair of circle lenses in this post and review is coming up on this one since I'm currently loving it too!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Well, hello there! Long time no blog. It's been months since I've posted something in this lovely blog of mine and I'm sorry readers but I've been so caught up with... life. On my previous blog posts I've always said that I will update more often and promised to be more active like when I first started but I FAILED. I'm sorry. I know that sucks big time but hey, I'm here and I've decided to keep my blog alive. I never got tired of writing blog posts it's just that I was too busy trying to figure out what to do with my life that I pretty much didn't have time to do some blogging.

Writing has always been an extension of myself and I find that blogging about beauty related stuff always made me happier than I had ever been. It has been a very busy couple of months but now that I look back on them I didn't really do much during those times. I realized that not posting something beauty related, may it be on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, or in this blog made me incomplete and I have longed to get back into it. It was just a matter of finding time to get on my computer and type away. Bloggers out there know that having a great running blog takes up a lot of time: taking creative photos, post process editing, trying out products, research and composing either brief or extensive objective reviews. It was just too much for me to do all those things while I was so busy finding myself and my purpose.

Anyway, enough with the drama. I'm back now and here's a couple of products I'm loving from the past Birchboxes that I received. I think it was back May or June when I started the Birchbox subscription and I was debating then if I would like to review my monthly Birchbox. After much thought I decided to just review the products I really love and would most likely purchase. So here goes:

I.C.O.N. India Oil

Clear, lightweight and with a slightly overpowering bubblegum scent with Moringa Oil, Far East Oil Blend and the ever so famous Argan Oil as its active ingredients. Since I've only received a sample size I ran out of it pretty fast but I was impressed on how it detangles and smooths out my hair. The only thing I don't like about it is it's scent. The scent lasts on my hair for hours and while some people may find that as a great bonus, I don't. The scent which greatly reminds me of bubblegum ice cream gives me a headache. Even with that downside I did love this product while it lasted though I'm not sure if I would purchase the full size. The full size of 112 ml retails for $37.

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream

With a scent that reminds me of antihistamine creams, this ceramidin cream is great for people with sensitive and extremely dry skin. I have been having dry patches recently which was quite a bummer since I usually don't get them until fall or winter comes, and this product has been really helpful. Ceramides are lipid molecules found lacking in dry skin thus, this cream replaces those lost ceramides and helps maintain skin moisture. I tried using it alone after washing my face at night and in the morning it made my skin soft, supple and moisturized. I have also tried layering it under my moisturizer, making sure that I give the Ceramidin cream a few minutes to sink in before applying moisturizer and it had done wonders to my skin. The full size of this product retails for $48 and though it is really pricey, this is a product that I personally would very much purchase and recommend especially to those people who has dry skin.

I have two lip products to rave about and both of them came in full sizes when I got them so I was completely happy and impressed.

Model Co. Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Peony

I am obsessed with this lipstick! It's rich and creamy texture paired with a bold and pigmented color is great for a statement lip. The shade, Peony, is your perfect red berry shade with a hint of fuchsia undertone. The photo doesn't do this shade justice. It is matte but unlike other matte lipsticks, this glides on smoothly on your lips and it's very moisturizing. I find that blotting this lipstick with a tissue is the best trick to make it last longer (and it does last long!) and to keep it from feathering. This lipstick retails for $16.95. The price is comparable to MAC lipsticks and other department store lipsticks. The formula and color pay off of the lipstick makes it worth the purchase plus this particular shade would flatter almost all skin tones.

Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in 14 Perfect Kiss

I have been digging coral lip colors since I started getting into makeup years ago and this shade, Perfect Kiss leans more to red than orange-coral in it's packaging. When applied to the lips it looks more natural but adds a little glam with it's fine gold glitter that gives it a nice glossy sheen. I am not a fan of the sheen finish lipsticks, another reason why I don't normally wear lip gloss except for the Stila Lip Glaze, and even then, I only wear them occasionally. However, this lipstick gives you the nicest glossy finish without it being slippery and sticky. This flatters my medium skin tone really well. Since this comes in a jumbo pencil form, it gave me really good precise application. The only downside about this particular product that I got with Birchbox is that it isn't the twistable/retractable version which is available for retail. The Mirenesse Glossy Kiss retails for $26.55. The price is a bit up there but hey, it is a very nice product!

I hope that this made up at least for the lost time and as always, I try to write something worth your reading time. Stay beautiful, happy, in love and healthy! <3